After nasty stretch, Blue Devils ready for what's next

Friday

DURHAM — Duke's football team hit the practice field Friday for the first time since the regular season ended and it's clear that the Blue Devils would prefer to look ahead to the Independence Bowl.

A messy conclusion to November's slate means there's plenty to accomplish for Duke (7-5) if it's to put a positive bow on the 2018 season.

"Everybody spent that time (the past couple of weeks) to get their minds right and get ready for the bowl game," junior defensive end Tre Hornbuckle said.

The 59-7 home loss to Wake Forest on Nov. 24 has been flushed from the system, coach David Cutcliffe said.

"You do that naturally and quickly," he said. "You don't have a chance to dwell (on it), in victory or defeat."

For Cutcliffe, that meant he has been in more than a dozen homes of recruits during the past two weeks as his staff tries to put together commitments from players who'll comprise the next batch of Blue Devils.

Meanwhile, current Duke players were on campus. That meant conditioning and weight-training, while recognizing what needs to be fixed on the field.

With setbacks to Clemson and Wake Forest putting dents on the Blue Devils' record, there should be no lack of motivation for the Dec. 27 date with Temple (8-4) in Shreveport, La.

"That definitely added to the hunger," Hornbuckle said. "I think we're ready to come out and make good use of this time."

Cutcliffe didn't give hints about the bowl availability of players who had been out with injuries late in the regular season. Most notably, that would involve standout linebackers Joe Giles-Harris and Ben Humphreys.

In general, he said he saw some players move better after the layoff.

"Guys who've been playing at 80 percent, I hope we can get to 100 percent," Cutcliffe said.

Lloyd said the break from the weekly schedule should be beneficial to all the players.

"Even the guys who were healthy, there's a little more bounce," he said.

Cutcliffe said he thinks the Blue Devils will be in a good frame of mind as bowl preparations pick up.

"They're anxious and want to get back out here," he said.

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